100+ Free OAT Physics Practice Questions
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What is the critical angle for total internal reflection at a glass-air interface? (n_glass = 1.5, n_air = 1.0)
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Key Facts: OAT Physics Exam
40 questions
OAT Physics section length (no calculator permitted)
ADA OAT User's Guide 2025
50 minutes
Time limit for the OAT Physics section
ADA OAT User's Guide 2025
200–400
OAT Physics score scale; competitive applicants typically score 300+
ADA OAT scoring documentation
13 content areas
Official OAT Physics topic areas including optics, mechanics, circuits, and thermodynamics
ADA OAT User's Guide 2025
~$475 USD
OAT registration fee per attempt
ADA OAT program fee schedule
23 schools
ASCO-member U.S. optometry programs that accept OAT scores
ASCO member school directory
The OAT Physics section contains 40 questions answered in 50 minutes with no calculator permitted (ADA OAT User's Guide 2025). The section is scored on a 200–400 scale, and competitive applicants typically score 300 or above. Topics span 13 official content areas including mechanics, rotational motion, energy and momentum, fluid statics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, DC circuits, and optics — with optics receiving particular weight due to its direct relevance to optometric practice. All numerical problems use clean numbers to permit rapid mental arithmetic. The OAT is accepted by all 23 ASCO-member optometry programs in the United States and is valid for 3 years after the test date.
Sample OAT Physics Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your OAT Physics exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A car travels 60 m east, then 80 m north. What is the magnitude of the displacement vector?
2A ball is thrown horizontally from a cliff 80 m high with an initial speed of 20 m/s. How long does it take to reach the ground? (g = 10 m/s²)
3An object starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 4 m/s² for 5 s. What is its final velocity?
4A 5 kg block rests on a frictionless surface. A horizontal force of 20 N is applied. What is the acceleration?
5A 10 kg object is at rest on a horizontal surface with a coefficient of static friction μₛ = 0.4. What is the minimum horizontal force needed to start moving it? (g = 10 m/s²)
6Two forces act on an object: 30 N east and 40 N north. What is the magnitude of the net force?
7A uniform beam of length 4 m and weight 200 N is supported at its center. A 100 N weight is placed 1 m from the left end. Where must a 100 N upward force be applied on the right side of the center to maintain equilibrium?
8A 2 kg mass moves in a circle of radius 0.5 m at a speed of 4 m/s. What is the centripetal force acting on it?
9A torque of 30 N·m is applied to a wheel with a moment of inertia of 6 kg·m². What is the angular acceleration?
10A thin hoop (I = MR²) of mass 2 kg and radius 0.5 m rotates at ω = 4 rad/s. What is its rotational kinetic energy?
About the OAT Physics Exam
The OAT Physics section is one of seven sections of the Optometry Admission Test. It presents 40 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 50 minutes with no calculator. The content spans classical mechanics, optics, electricity, fluids, thermodynamics, waves and sound, and introductory modern physics. Because optometrists work directly with light and optical instruments, the optics content is especially clinically relevant.
Questions
40 scored questions
Time Limit
50 minutes
Passing Score
Scored 200–400; most programs seek 300–320+ (50th–75th percentile); no universal cutoff
Exam Fee
Approximately $475 USD per attempt (American Dental Association (ADA) Department of Testing Services on behalf of ASCO)
OAT Physics Exam Content Outline
Mechanics
Kinematics, Newton's laws, statics, torque, rotational motion, energy conservation, impulse-momentum, and simple harmonic motion.
Optics
Snell's law, total internal reflection, lenses (converging/diverging), mirrors (concave/convex/plane), magnification, lens power in diopters, apparent depth, and double-slit interference.
Electricity and Magnetism
Coulomb's law, electric field/potential, capacitors, series/parallel circuits, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, power, and magnetic forces on charges and current-carrying wires.
Fluids and Thermodynamics
Hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy, continuity and Bernoulli equations, ideal gas laws, first/second law of thermodynamics, Carnot efficiency, and thermal expansion.
Waves, Sound, and Modern Physics
Wave speed/frequency/wavelength, standing waves, Doppler effect, beats, decibels, photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength, and nuclear decay with half-life.
How to Pass the OAT Physics Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scored 200–400; most programs seek 300–320+ (50th–75th percentile); no universal cutoff
- Exam length: 40 questions
- Time limit: 50 minutes
- Exam fee: Approximately $475 USD per attempt
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
OAT Physics Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the OAT Physics section and how long do I have?
The OAT Physics section has 40 multiple-choice questions with a 50-minute time limit. No calculator is permitted, so problems use clean numbers designed for mental arithmetic or simple pencil-and-paper calculations.
Is a calculator allowed on the OAT Physics section?
No. The OAT Physics section does not permit calculators. All numerical problems are designed to have clean, manageable numbers so that calculations can be performed quickly without a calculator. Practice doing arithmetic with values like 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ and simple fractions.
What physics topics are most heavily tested on the OAT?
Mechanics (kinematics, Newton's laws, energy/momentum, rotational motion) and optics together account for roughly 60–65% of the physics section. Optics is weighted more heavily on the OAT than on the MCAT because it is directly relevant to optometric clinical work, including lenses, mirrors, refraction, and lens power in diopters.
What score do I need on OAT Physics to get into optometry school?
There is no universal cutoff, but most competitive applicants score 300 or above on the 200–400 scale, which is approximately the 50th percentile. Top programs often have average physics scores of 310–330. A score of 300 in Physics is typically considered the minimum competitive floor.
How is the OAT scored?
Each section of the OAT (including Physics) is scored on a scale of 200–400. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question. Scores are calculated from the number of correct responses, converted to the scaled score. An overall Academic Average score is also reported.
How many times can I take the OAT?
You may take the OAT up to three times total, and you must wait at least 90 days between attempts. All attempts are reported to schools you designate. It is advisable to be well-prepared before your first attempt.